Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 6:10 pm Post subject: This is unbelievable (Autism Walk at my school)
I hope I put this in the right forum. At my school there's posters up for an "autism walk." In other words, a fundraiser to find a "cure" for autism and that the funds would go to Autism Speaks. The posters said things like how 1 in 150 kids suffer from autism and how they were walking to bring hope to autistic kids. It disgusted me. If people really wanted to help, they would learn more about Asperger's Syndrome and autism and better tolerate how we're different. Seeing those posters makes me want to show up at that walk and point out to everyone who decides to show up that people like me don't want to be "cured."
Joined: Jul 18, 2004 Age: 33 Posts: 20650 Location: Out in the evening, with me two best Rat Mates. :O)
Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 6:26 pm Post subject:
That make me sick. _________________ Sid The Rat is everything that I stand for. We're both large, proud Punkers with Cockney accents. We both have the same issues, as well. I don't see anything wrong, with that. I was put on this planet, to make myself happy. Sid :O)
They'll NEVER find a cure for Autism. Autism is a psychological disability. There is no "cure" for a psychological disability. The behaviors can be extinguished through classical conditioning, but there's always the risk of that behavior coming back. That is called a spontaneous recovery. We're not freaks and we don't have a disease. We are a community and we just have to work harder to live with who we are. That is the definition of a disability. _________________ Joshua
We all deal with problems and strife, but it's how we deal with them that makes all the difference in the world.
Joined: Jan 18, 2008 Posts: 5234 Location: A Bubble in the Ocean
Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 6:57 pm Post subject:
Definitely skip school that day, or refuse to walk, saying that you HAVE Autism and don't want it cured thank you very much. _________________ "You can do the math a thousand way, but you can't undo the past"
From P!nk's song 'I'm Not Dead'
lau Quinquaginta Novem! Male Gee-knee-us + silly bits.
Joined: Jun 18, 2006 Age: 59 Posts: 6213 Location: Somerset UK
Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:09 pm Post subject:
I was trying to dream up a placard to go with, and stand by the side of the walk:
I'mautistic. Ispeak for me. Autism Speaks doesn't. _________________ Manly's Maxim: Logic is a systematic method of coming to the wrong conclusion with confidence.
Matz's Law: A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking.
Meade's Maxim: Always remember that you are absolutely unique, just like everyone else.
I should probably mention that it's one of those optional community things. Y'know, those after-school kind of events. But still...! I want to walk up to the office and express how offended I am that they would allow these kinds of things to be advertised in our school. And if they have no choice in the matter, to at least make sure that people who want to participate are well informed of BOTH sides of the autism cure conflict.
Joined: Mar 24, 2008 Posts: 506 Location: Confederate States of America
Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:26 pm Post subject:
lau wrote:
I was trying to dream up a placard to go with, and stand by the side of the walk:
I'mautistic. Ispeak for me. Autism Speaks doesn't.
I like that idea very much. Wish we could afford a television ad campaign based on that slogan.
I think I'm going to have Artistic tattooed on one side of my neck, and Autistic on the other and see if anyone notices the difference. _________________ "I don't mean to sound bitter, cynical or cruel - but I am, so that's how it comes out."
- Bill Hicks
Joined: Jan 09, 2007 Age: 17 Posts: 1223 Location: AREA 11 - Shinjuku Ghetto
Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 9:01 pm Post subject:
Indeed. I think the best solution (that doesnt involve hiring a shiningami) is to boycott the walk completely. Just don't do it. If it's for something you don't believe in, no one - not even school admins - can force you to participate. If they try, let them know exactly why you refuse to participate in the walk. State your beliefs and the reasons why you protest the walk. If they still try to force you, be defiant. If you do, they'll probably suspend you for insubordination, but at least then you don't have to participate, and if you present your case to the school board, you should, by all rights, have it overturned and stricken from your record. Even an individual protest is the first step to getting your point across, but if you can, find other people that you trust and ask them to join you. The more people you rally to your cause, the less the school can do about it. If they attempt to contact the authorities, don't be discouraged. The police can't do anything to break up a peaceful protest, as it would be a violation of constiutional rights. Remember, the 1st Amendment is on your side.
Hope this helps.
Roxas
EDIT: Didn't see the second post about it being optional. Well, given the situation, I would probably get as many people as possible and run a signpost protest along the route. As long as you don't harass anyone or disturb the general peace, it's perfectly within your legal rights to do so. _________________ "I, Lelouch Vi Britannia, command you... all of you... die!" - Code Geass
"The only ones who should kill are those who are prepared to be killed." - Code Geass
Joined: Jul 18, 2004 Age: 33 Posts: 20650 Location: Out in the evening, with me two best Rat Mates. :O)
Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 9:57 pm Post subject:
Autism Speaks does not speak for me, either. _________________ Sid The Rat is everything that I stand for. We're both large, proud Punkers with Cockney accents. We both have the same issues, as well. I don't see anything wrong, with that. I was put on this planet, to make myself happy. Sid :O)
ToadOfSteel This is the right planet... out there, somewhere..
Joined: Sep 24, 2007 Age: 20 Posts: 1715 Location: New Jersey
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 2:12 am Post subject:
If I were there, I would delibrately walk in the opposite direction (i.e. start at the end point and end at the start), probably with that slogan... not only would everyone walking see me, in a sense, they would be walking backwards...
lau Quinquaginta Novem! Male Gee-knee-us + silly bits.
Joined: Jun 18, 2006 Age: 59 Posts: 6213 Location: Somerset UK
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 6:46 am Post subject:
I have to own up. My idea was certainly not original, although the wording for my "placard" was made up by me.
The following was what I was remembering... a short piece of video showing a guy (Joe?) who protested at a NY walk two years ago:
The comments are good to read:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7JloMNDw0Y _________________ Manly's Maxim: Logic is a systematic method of coming to the wrong conclusion with confidence.
Matz's Law: A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking.
Meade's Maxim: Always remember that you are absolutely unique, just like everyone else.
Last edited by lau on Sat Apr 19, 2008 4:01 pm; edited 1 time in total
Joined: Mar 16, 2008 Posts: 1086 Location: North of SF Bay Area
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 8:31 am Post subject:
It looks like the right forum to me Alisa. The young people at Wrong Planet impress me.
Yoshie777 wrote:
They'll NEVER find a cure for Autism. Autism is a psychological disability. There is no "cure" for a psychological disability. The behaviors can be extinguished through classical conditioning, but there's always the risk of that behavior coming back. That is called a spontaneous recovery. We're not freaks and we don't have a disease. We are a community and we just have to work harder to live with who we are. That is the definition of a disability.
I'm in total agreement with this statement Yoshie!
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